BIOL A103Introductory Biology Lab

Course Expectations

Instructor: Oya Yazgan

oyazgan@uaa.alaska.edu

Syllabus

• The syllabus is a contract between you and your

instructor and you are bound by the rules stated

within, so read it carefully. It also contains the

course schedule. You can find it on Blackboard,

refer to it often

• Any changes to the course schedule will be

announced both in class and on Blackboard.

• Quiz dates, assignment deadlines, readings, etc.

are listed in the syllabus – No excuse to not be

prepared.

Course Materials

• You are REQUIRED to

purchase a 2014 Lab Manual

from the bookstore. Many

changes have been made

from the manuals of previous

semesters.

• Hoefnagels’ Biology: The

Essentials (1st ed.) textbook

is recommended (but not

required) for this lab.

Blackboard course site• Access through www.uaa.alaska.edu/classes.

• You will have access to all materials necessary for

this course (except for the manual).

• “Contact Instructor” link contains the e-mail

address link for your instructor, as well as his/her

office hours (to be posted after the second week of

the semester).

• You can keep track of your grades and your current

status in this course in “My Grades.”

• “Calendar” will have due dates for quizzes and

assignments.

• “Announcements” will be posted to Blackboard,

along with an e-mail copy.

CHECK BLACKBOARD SITE FREQUENTLY!

Pre-Lab Quizzes

• Weekly on Blackboard.

• Available to take from end of lab time one week to

beginning of lab time the following week (7 days).

• Must be completed BEFORE lab – will go offline

when lab begins.

• 2 attempts for each quiz, 1 hour per attempt. Once you

start a quiz, it must be completed in a single sitting.

• Questions are based on the lab manual for that

coming week – you must read the lab manual and

be prepared for lab!

• Quizzes add up to 11% of your final grade (that is a

whole letter grade), so TAKE THEM!

Class Topics

• Introduction: Lab Safety and Introduction to the Microscope

• Lab 1: Scientific Method/The Tree of Life and Phylogenies

• Lab 2: Cell Structure and Function

• Lab 3: Movement Across Membranes

• Lab 4: DNA, Chromosomes, & Mitosis

• Lab 5: Meiosis and Mendelian Genetics

• Lab 6: Human Genetics and Blood Type

• Lab 7: Biotechnology: Crime Scene Investigation

• Lab 8: Plants

• Lab 9: Fungi and Lichens

• Lab 10: Invertebrates

• Lab 11: Introduction to Vertebrates

• Lab 12: Ecosystems

Grading

Points

12 Pre-lab quizzes (5 points each, drop lowest) 55

12 Lab Exercises (20 points each, drop lowest) 220

3 Writing Exercises (25 points each)75

3 Tests (50 points each)150

Total 500

Grading Scale:

A (89.9%-100%)

B (79.9%-89.8%)

C (69.9%-79.8%)

D (59.9%-69.8%)

F (0%-59.8%)

All points have equal

weight!

Class Policies

• Lab attendance is MANDATORY.

– You need to sign an attendance sheet to

document your presence. Do not leave without

signing!

– You must turn in an ‘Excused Absence Petition’

Form (found on Bb) for an opportunity to make

up a missed lab; NOT a guarantee!

– Missing more than 2 unexcused labs may result in

being administratively dropped from the course.

• If you choose to drop the course, it will be

your responsibility to do so. If you stop

attending and do not drop/withdraw by the

deadline, you will receive an “F or NB.”

• Late work will not be accepted, unless you

receive prior WRITTEN permission from your

instructor. Assignments will be accepted as “on

time” if turned in before the lab period

commences; specifically, before the PowerPoint

lecture is up on the screen.

• Every student will be granted a one-time

opportunity in the semester to turn in an

assignment late – called the “Oops Pass”

(NOTE: This only applies to lab exercises, not

to writing assignments).

Class Policies

• All e-mail correspondence with your instructor

needs to be done with your UAA e-mail account.

Check this account regularly.

• Include your course and section number in all

correspondence. Use professional language.

• You must sign and hand in the “Student-Instructor

Academic Contract” today.

• If you are under 18 years of age, you must

fill out a liability waiver and have it signed by

your parent or legal guardian.

Class Policies

Announcements

• Introductory lab quiz is worth 5 pts extra credit.

You need to take the quiz on Blackboard by lab

time next week.

• Today’s Introduction to the Microscope exercise

is worth 5 points extra credit. It is due today!

• For next week, you need to read ‘Lab 1’ in manual

and take Pre-lab Quiz 1 on Blackboard before lab

time.

Questions?